Parasitoid insects, unlike parasites, kill their hosts by consuming them during their larval stage. Most parasitoids are small wasps and flies, and they infect a wide range of insects and arachnids.

The diversity and ecology of African parasitoid wasps was studied for over a year during a project run by the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku in Finland. Parasitoid wasps are one of the ...

A group of parasitic insects tough enough to kill fire ants has shown researchers a nasty new trick. The creatures hide inside their victim by making the host form a protective bag of its own skin.

As the stinkbugs lay their eggs, the scientists saw the females using the tip of their back legs to scratch its fungus-filled hindleg organs. They then smeared the egg with the fungus, which grew to ...

A research group studying the diversity of parasitoid insects around the world. Parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) are one of the most species rich animal taxa on Earth, but their tropical diversity is ...

The sting of a wasp can be painful to humans. But for certain caterpillars, spiders and worms, it can mean being turned into a puppet slave for days, until they die a grisly death. Sound like the ...

The tiny, iridescent parasitoid wasp is the latest insect shown to be a cryptic complex of genetically distinct species. By Sabrina Imbler The tiny, iridescent Ormyrus labotus always seemed suspicious ...

Insect parasitoids have emerged as indispensable agents in sustainable pest management, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. These specialised insects, which lay ...

Scientists have studied the diversity of tropical parasitoid wasps for years. Parasitoid wasps are among the most species rich animal taxa on Earth, but their tropical diversity is still poorly known.

What comes to mind when you think of beneficial insects in your yard? Observant gardeners will often name one of the voracious predators of other insects. These include generalist predators such as ...